“I just felt like a change,” Rondo said. “I just needed a change tonight. You may not ever see it again.”

For the majority of his six-year NBA career, Rondo wore a headband with the NBA logo facing upside down, but the league instituted a rule against wearing headbands inside out. After the 2009-10 season, the league instituted a policy outlawing Rondo’s inverted style. He hasn’t worn a headband in game-action since.

“I think it’s my statement — my signature statement when I won a championship,” Rondo said. “Who knows? People ask me all the time why I don’t wear it anymore. I tried to get a petition, but it didn’t go through.”

It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for the Celtics if Rondo kept his retro-look en vogue. His line Friday night: 14 points, 13 assists and five steals. And even though he mentioned that he wore the headband on a whim and possibly not donning it again, Rondo wasn’t ruling anything out.

“I’m 1-0 in the headband this year,” he said. “So I might try to keep the streak alive Sunday.”